Stories for December 2020

Thursday, December 10th 2020 - 09:43 UTC
Facebook faces mass lawsuits and could be forced to sell WhatsApp and Instagram

Facebook could be forced to sell its prized assets WhatsApp and Instagram after the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and nearly every US state filed lawsuits against the social media company, saying it used a “buy or bury” strategy to snap up rivals and keep smaller competitors at bay.
Thursday, December 10th 2020 - 09:37 UTC
Brazil will begin “quite likely” Covid-19 vaccinations in January or February

Brazil will “quite likely” begin vaccinations to stem the coronavirus pandemic in January or February, Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said on Wednesday, outlining what would be the most aggressive vaccination timeline proposed by a federal health official in Brazil to date.
Thursday, December 10th 2020 - 09:30 UTC
Maduro allies win 91% of the legislature's seats following the Sunday vote

Allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro won 91% percent of the legislature's seats following a vote on Sunday that was boycotted by the opposition and disavowed by the United States and the European Union.
Thursday, December 10th 2020 - 09:29 UTC
A new beaked whale species discovered off Mexico's western coast?

Researchers believe they have found a previously unknown species of beaked whale in waters off Mexico's western coast. If confirmed, the new species would mark a significant discovery among giant mammals.
Thursday, December 10th 2020 - 09:29 UTC
The last dinner: Boris Johnson and von der Leyen share British scallops and turbot

After months of wrangling over access to British fishing waters, Britain's prime minister and the European Union's chief executive met for dinner in Brussels on Wednesday to pull Brexit trade talks back from the brink - and tucked into turbot.
Thursday, December 10th 2020 - 09:27 UTC
Falklands Covid-19 swabbing reached 4,746, according to latest data

The Falkland Islands on Wednesday reported an update on Covid 19 swabbing which have reached 4,746, and no positive cases throughout the Islands. Because of the national Bank Holiday on Tuesday 8 December, Falklands' weekly Covid-19 swabbing update was published Wednesday, and update results are as follows.
Thursday, December 10th 2020 - 09:20 UTC
Cyber-attack on EU medicines' regulator accesses crucial Pfizer vaccines info

US drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said on Wednesday that documents related to the development of their Covid-19 vaccine had been “unlawfully accessed” in a cyberattack on Europe’s medicines regulator. The European Medicines Agency, EMA, which assesses medicines and vaccines for the EU said hours earlier it had been targeted in a cyber attack.
Thursday, December 10th 2020 - 09:14 UTC
UN chief Guterres calls Covid-19 vaccines be treated as “a global public good”; fears poor countries will be sided

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that “vaccine nationalism” is moving “at full speed,” leaving poor people around the globe watching preparations for inoculations against the coronavirus in some rich nations and wondering if and when they will be vaccinated.
Thursday, December 10th 2020 - 09:11 UTC
Brazil central bank keeps interest rate at record low 2%, but admits scenario of inflation expectations

Brazil’s central bank kept its key interest rate at a record low 2.00% on Wednesday, as expected, but gave the first sign it could soon drop its pledge to keep rates lower for longer as inflation expectations converge toward target.
Thursday, December 10th 2020 - 09:10 UTC
UK medicine regulator advises people with allergic reactions to avoid the Pfizer vaccines

Britain's medicine regulator has advised that people with a history of significant allergic reactions do not get Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine after two people reported adverse effects on the first day of rollout.